Maharashtra: Residential school director held for raping 5 students
At least five students, some of them minor, were allegedly raped and three others molested by the director of a residential school for tribals in Sangli district, Maharashtra. The accused, Arvind Pawar (61) and his aide Manisha Kamble (40) have been arrested. Kamble used to arrange the victims for Pawar who sexually exploited them after promising them good marks and free education in school.
Police received anonymous letter about wrongdoings in school, conducted inquiry
The incident came to light on Tuesday after the Kurlap police station received an anonymous letter about wrongdoings in the school. Accordingly, a woman police officer visited the school in plain clothes and asked some of the girl students regarding it. It then got revealed that the director had allegedly raped at least five students aged 14-20 years over the last two years.
It was Kamble who sent the victims to Pawar
Assistant Police Inspector Vivek Patil, in-charge of Kurlap Police Station, said it was Kamble who approached the girls promising them free food and education. After luring them, she would send them to the third floor of the school building, where Pawar sexually assaulted them.
Victims' parents have been informed, students shifted to another school
The police, officials of the Child Welfare Department, and members of the local Women and Child Welfare Committee yesterday raided the school and rescued the victims. An offense under relevant sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered. "We've informed the victims' parents and shifted all the students to another school," Patil said.
